JACKSON — Mississippi lawmakers are returning to Jackson today for a special session to consider up to $20 million in state funding for tornado recovery. Twenty-three tornadoes swept through the state last week, killing 14 people and causing extensive damage in Louisville, Tupelo and other places. The special session begins at 1 p.m. today and […] [...]

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Five more Mississippi counties have been declared disaster areas due to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. Workers in those counties who are permanently or temporarily unemployed due to the disaster may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is available to people who lose their jobs because of disasters, but who […] [...]

JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant has called the Mississippi Legislature into special session starting tomorrow to help pay state government’s share of recovery costs after the deadly April 28 tornadoes. The governor said yesterday that lawmakers will be asked to provide up to $20 million for disaster response and recovery costs through the Mississippi Emergency […] [...]

JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant may call the Mississippi Legislature into special session to help pay state government’s share of tornado recovery costs. Speaking yesterday in Louisville, Bryant told reporters that the state believes that it needs at least $8.5 million to match federal aid from the April 26 tornadoes. The National Weather Service has […] [...]

AROUND MISSISSIPPI — Tetanus vaccinations are being offered free to all residents in storm-affected counties. The Mississippi State Department of Health reminds all storm-affected residents that a tetanus vaccination is recommended if it has been 10 years or more since your last tetanus vaccination. Residents and first responders involved in storm cleanup are at greater […] [...]

WINSTON COUNTY — Rescuers were still looking for people missing after last Monday’s tornado when Louisville and Winston County officials started thinking about long-term recovery. The county of 19,000 people in east Mississippi faces three major challenges — housing for hundreds left homeless, rebuilding its health care system after the twister shattered its hospital and […] [...]

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Relief efforts continue as the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) clears right-of-way areas affected by the recent tornadoes which hit several communities throughout the state. MDOT is reminding motorists to be aware of crews on the roadside during the recovery process and to use caution when traveling through areas where workers are […] [...]

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet says the SBA is ready to assist businesses after the announcement of the presidential disaster declaration for several counties in Mississippi affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from last Monday’s storms. The disaster declaration covers the counties of Itawamba, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Rankin, Wayne […] [...]

JACKSON — Commissioner of Insurance and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney is expanding the efforts of the Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) and State Fire Marshal’s Office in assisting victims of Monday’s storms. Chaney and his staff visited Richland, Pearl, Brandon, Louisville and Tupelo Tuesday to assess damage, and he has ordered extra personnel in place […] [...]

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Seven counties in Mississippi have been declared federal disaster areas following devastation from severe storms and tornadoes that swept through the state beginning April 28. Gov. Phil Bryant requested the expedited declaration from President Obama on April 29, and Mississippi’s congressional delegation yesterday sent a letter to the president in support of […] [...]